Coldwater Bar & Grill - Sitka, Alaska

John R.

I was curious about this place when I walked by it in the daytime, and even more so after I read the positive reviews, but in the end it was barely acceptable. The lighting was harsh, glaring, and cold in the main section by the bar; it made me not want to be there. The tables along the window had softer, more welcoming light, but even there the glare from the spotlights on the far side of the room was still annoying … and was flashing, thanks to the ceiling fans. Who designs spaces like this?

The menu is pricey and not very extensive. I ordered the $22 “comfort” special, which consisted of two enormous pork chops garnished with tasteless apple sauce, and served with mashed potatoes (which I was allowed to replace with fries) and a “vegetable” that was supposed to be asparagus but turned out to be coleslaw. It also came with a decent salad to start, arguably the best part of the meal.

The service, while courteous, was slow and generally clueless. They don’t offer WiFi, or plugs for laptops. They don’t offer service on the patio, although they will allow you to take your drinks out there when the weather is nice. In the end, I found the place creepy and unpleasant, and eating there was not a fun experience. Now that I have satisfied my curiosity, I doubt I will be back.

Andie G.

Cold Water Bar and Grill in Sitka is a great spot to stop while exploring the town!

We were on a cruise and decided to pop in for a quick snack, sharing a salad that was fresh and delicious. The service was excellent--friendly and attentive--which made the experience even better.

The location is super convenient, right in town with plenty of nice shops nearby to browse before or after your visit. A solid choice for good food and great service in Sitka!

Christina W.

We were excited to try this place as it's the only place in Sitka that will cook your fish you caught if you bring it in. What we didn't expect, is that we would still be charged full price. If we would have been told ahead of time that we would still be charged full price, we wouldn't have brought our fish. Food was good. Service was a very long wait for anything. Music playing wasn't great, as it was either in a different language or when it was English, it was rap.

Jessica K.

Great place to eat on our Sitka port stop! Would recommend going there first thing to avoid the lines, but they seat pretty quick if not. Amazing service (Thanks, Jade 😊!!) and great food. Huge portions! Would say share a meal and get the 1 lb crab leg to share. Sweet potato fries are wonderful.

Andrew P.

Good food and friendly staff. Nice location as well.

Had the chef's special (pork chop), which was quite nice. Also had the lemon pepper butter wings and Ceasars salad.

Beth C.

My recent dining experience at the Coldwater Bar and Grill left much to be desired. While there were some positive aspects, such as the quality of the crab legs, overall, the visit was marred by unorganized service and mediocre food.

The first issue we encountered was the disorganized seating. We were initially seated at a table for two people, despite our party consisting of three. After a brief shuffle, we were moved to another table, which was a bit frustrating as it seemed like a simple oversight that should have been avoided.

Our service woes continued when multiple waitstaff approached our table in quick succession. First, one waiter assured us she would be right with us, only for a different waiter to take over our table less than three minutes later. This sudden handover left us feeling somewhat disoriented and unsure about who our actual server was.

To make matters more confusing, when we asked a question, the second waiter walked away without explanation, apparently to find the answer. While it's commendable that he sought information, his abrupt departure without any communication left us momentarily puzzled.

The quality of the food also left room for improvement. The fish and chips arrived at our table at room temperature, which was disappointing. In contrast, the crab legs were a standout, offering a satisfying taste. However, the same couldn't be said for the mac and cheese served to my daughter, which was, at best, mediocre.

In summary, my visit to the Coldwater Bar and Grill was less than stellar. The unorganized service and inconsistency in the quality of the food left a lot to be desired. While there were some positive aspects, like the enjoyable crab legs, the overall experience fell short of expectations. I hope the restaurant can address these issues to provide a more satisfying dining experience for its patrons in the future.

Alan D.

Coldwater was a surprise for us! A good surprise! The winter menu is terrific in taste, portion sizes, and price. It is well worth the visit and then a revisit. We ordered something from each section basically and they were all really, really good. We got Drinks, wings, club sandwhich, steak, Brussels, ginger and orange lechon, and ceviche. We absolutely loved the lechon!! There was also a side of fries we swapped out for the corn bread and they were crispy while being salted and peppered to perfection. The new chef is kind and works hard to bring all of these wonderful flavors together for all of us. Exactly what the old place needed. Talk about an upgrade. I’m giving this 5 stars because this menu is out of this world yummy. Thank you. - They have a new chef. This review was for S.

Gatlin W.

This place was great! A really good salmon BLT! Also probably better than the food was the cocktails and the iconic duck fart shots. Also really great service too lots of personality!